Power window operator



y 5, 1954 A. D. BRUNDAGE POWER WINDOW OPERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 12, 1951 IN V EN TOR. /7 477 J ZrzmzZd e.

y 5, 1954 A. D. BRUNDAGE POWER WINDOW OPERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1951 INVENTOR- /7/47? I. rzzrrz e.

flffaF/VJ'K Patented May 25, 1954 POWER WINDOW OPERATOR Alan D. Brundage, Detroit, Mich., assignor to F. L. Jacobs 00., Detroi of Michigan t, Mich., a corporation Application February 12, 1951, Serial No. 210,553

6 Claims.

This invention pertains to power driven window operating means, and in particular to an electrically driven window operator for motor vehicles, streetcars, railroad cars and the like.

During recent years power driven window operating mechanism has come into general use on higher priced automobiles. Customer acceptance has created a demand for power operators on lower priced cars, but attempts to adapt the relatively complicated and expensive apparatus for large scale, low cost production have been generally unsuccessful. This has been due in great measure to the fact that hydraulically operated mechanism has been used almost exclusively, which requires piping, valves, regulators, sumps, etc. Window operators driven by small electric motors have been proposed, but have proven expensive to manufacture and noisy in use.

The prime object of the invention described herein its to provide an improved self-contained power window operator which eliminates the need for hydraulic mechanism of any kind and which require no piping.

Another object is to provide a completely electrically driven window operator of economical construction which is adapted for mounting on a vehicle body interchangeably with the manual operator.

A further object is to provide a power window operator which incorporates an improved mounting and drive coupling which, in operation, renders the mechanism quiet in use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification in which preferred embodiments of the invention are described.

In the drawings accompanying the description:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away, of an automobile door embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section along line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of another type of window operator showing a slightly modified form of power unit;

Fig. is a section along line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrow 6.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it may be seen that there is illustrated an automobile door D, which may be a front door having a window frame (0, including a sloping front pillar and an upright rear pillar, said pillars merging into an 4. upper header to provide a window frame of which the upper portion is in the form of a closed figure defining a window opening. This main window opening is adapted to be closed by means of a vertically slidable glass H and a laterally swinging glass 12. The latter panel is of the socalled ventipane type disposed at the forward part of the window opening and the panels H and i2 are preferably arranged so that in their closed positions they extend in substantially parallel planes to completely close the main window opening. The panel l2 may be pivoted by any suitable means (not shown) for swinging movement. The panel H has an upright channel member !3 secured to the leading edge thereof against which the rear edge of the pane I2 is adapted to seat.

The lower portion of the member I3 projects into the window well below the opening and is secured by screws or other suitable means to the forward part of a stamped metal bracket Hi, this bracket being spot welded to the bottom forward edge of a channel member l5 which embraces and is carried by the lower edge of the glass I l.

Any suitable window regulating means may be utilized for raising and lowering the panel II. In the example shown, the mechanism is of the well known "cross-arm type and comprises a pair of intersecting arms l6 and I! which carry studs at their outer ends adapted to be connected, respectively, within a horizontal slot l8 in the bracket l4 and a horizontal slot in a bracket l9 secured to the bottom of member l5.

The mechanism described is driven by an arm 20 secured to a sector gear 2| rotatable upon a mounting plate 22. The plate 22 is securely fastened as by rivets or bolts to the inner door panel 23 (Fig. 2). The sector gear 2| is driven by a pinion 24. In manually operated window regulators, the pinion 24 is mounted on a handle shaft which carries the usual friction clutch for holding the window in adjusted position. This structure is not illustrated because it is conventional and forms no part of the present invention. The lower end of the cross arm I! is pivoted at 25 to the inner door panel 23, and the lower end of the cross arm I6 has a stud [6a slidably connected in a guide slot 26 in the panel 23.

The power unit, generally designated in the drawing by the letter P, comprises a motor, gearbox and mounting means. The motor 2'! is carried by a die cast gearbox housing 28 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The housing contains a driven shaft 29 journaled therein by means of a bearing 30 and bushing 3|. The motor shaft 32 carries a. worm 33 disposed in mesh with a worm wheel 34 fixed on the shaft 29. The outer end of shaft 29 drivingly engages a coupling 35. The member 35 is of rubber or equivalent material and has cup-like depressions in opposite sides thereof for receiving "the ends of shafts 29 and 36 respectively. "Each'of thesesha'fts isprovided with a slot for receiving metal cross-members 36a carried by the coupling. The cross-members are disposed at right angles to eachiother-and on opposite sides of coupling member 35. Both cross-members are bondedto the rubber during the molding thereof and thus the-torque-of 'the shaft 29 is transmitted to the shaft 36 through the resilience of the coupling. The :pin'ion24 which drives the sector gear 2| carries a sleeve 3'! which entirely surrounds the coupling "35 and confines the material during periods of heavy iorquezrequirements.

Zlhe .zgearbox housing 28 'is .mounted "on the plate ;22 .bytmeans .of a bracket 38 which has eaiflange .39 formedon the fiat vertically disposed -portion iii thereof. The portion All has enlarged 'h01es;for accommodating the portion 40a; of :housing :26 and fasteninglb-olts 4|. Disposed in back=to+baclr relation'with the portion id is a 'fianged .member .42 (Figs. 2 and 3). Rubber pads 431are clisposedin the pan-like depressions formed by the flanges onparts 25' and 52, which "pads" are providedwith apertures for receiving and snugly-engagingthe housing =28 and bolts 4!. The latter pass through the gearbox housing-:and-threadedlyengage a plate it. It may .thus be seen that when the three bolts Q! are tightened, the entire power assembly is firmly yetTesilientlytsecured to the member 22.

It'will'be readily understood that the motor :21 .is "connected .tocthe vehicle battery through wires .and switches (not shown) and -that energizaticn 'of the "motor in one direction 'or the otheriby the driver will cause the window panel :H to be raised or .lowered through the interznediary of the driven shaft 29, coupling 35, shaft r36,':pinion.t2gsector gear 2i and link 'ilii.

Figs. 4, Sand Gshow a modified form:of the invention .asztapplied toa rear door. In theex- .a1nple;shown, provision is made for reducing the effective overall thickness'of thepower unit such thatit is:adaptable to doors f relatively thin; section.

In the modification, the-electric'motor fl is carriediby diecast gearbox 5 I, the latter being mounted .onasplate'tii, which plate is, in turn, mounted on the inner framing 'ofthedoor. A resilient sandwich 53, similar tothe onepreviously described, is interposed between the housingand the plate. A. sector gear 54 driven by 'apinion .55 operates the windowpanel (not shown) tthrough a bellcrank 5t.

:Asmay be more clearly seen inFig. 5, the resilient coupling 57 is mounted on the opposite sideof thepinion and sector from the motor. The shaft 3 is slotted at the end and engages one of the bonded crossmembers '59 of the couplingrtl'i. The pinion 55 is separated from the shaft .58 by a bushing 69 carried by a bracket -.iii:riveted to'the plate 52.

A driving sleeve 52 surrounds the resilient member of thecoupling and is provided with integral tabs;63 which are received in slots 64 cut in the coupling .member such that one of the cross members-.59 (Fig. 6) .isdisposed betweenaipair of tabs eat -.each side and :a driving relationship is established. The sleeve 62 is elongated toward the motor and has integral teeth which engage the pinion 55 as shown in Fig. 5.

It may be seen then that in this modification of the invention, the drive from the shaft 58 is transmitted to the sector 54 through the coupling 51, sleeve 62 and pinion 55. Because the .couplingis disposed on the opposite side of the pinion and sector gear from the motor, better utilization of space results.

It has been found that use of rubber, or equivalent yieldable material, in the mounting of the power unit and in the drive between the motor and the pinion, renders the mechanism sufiiciently-quiet in use to make it acceptable to automobile users. "Vibration and drumming are e iminatednnd the :raising and lowering of the window is accomplished without any greater noise'than is present in manually operated window operators. In addition, the few parts and simplicity :of mytinvention have enabled adoption :thereof'ifor cars. in' the .lower'price range.

While I have :shown only preferred embodiments of my :developmentfor illustrativepur poses,.it will :be understood that by sodoing, I :do notintend to limit the invention .except as .set .forth in the appended claims.

Izclaim:

.1. In apparatus :for'shifting a :slidable panel relativeto a body structure-of avehicle, a bracket supported in substantially rigid "relation :on the :body structure, a geanhousing havingasurface sadjacent a part of said bracket, :a resiiient :pad between said housing surface and said partof the bracket, means secuing thegearhousing-zto :said bracket part with the ,pad 'therebetween affording movements of the housingrelativeato the bracket without transmitting vibrations to the bracket and the bodystructure, an electric .motor carried by the gear housing,1a.shaft ex- :tending from the gear housing driven by-said 'motor, a pinion normally in axial alignment with said shaft, means'substantiallyrigid with the bodystructure supporting the pinion "for rotation, a gearsector inmesh with the pinion for-shifting the panel, and a shoal; absorbing universalcoupling conneetingthe pinion to said shaft.

2. Apparatus according to 'claiml wherein the universal zcouplingzis at one side of l the gear sectoriandithegear housing is at the ,otherside of the gear sector.

:3.-Apparatus'according to claim 1, wherein the geanhousingsand theuniversal coupling'are both at thesame side .of the gear sector.

4. In apparatus for actuating a slidablepanel relative to a body-structure'of a-vehicle,a1bracket mounted in substantially rigid relation with the body structure, a gear housing having a'surfaceiarranged along said bracket, a resilient pad between said housing surface and said bracket, meanssecuring thegear housing tosaid bracket with the pad therebetween affording movements oftthe gear housing relative to the bracket without transmitting vibrations to the bracket, an electric motor carried by the gear housing, i8. shaft extending from the gearhousing driven bysaid motor, a pinion for actuating the panel journalledfor rotationonmeans secured tothe body structure, and a universal coupling con necting the pinion to said shaft accommodating changes in'positions of the shaft relative to the pinion.

.5. .In apparatus. for shifting :a ,panel relative to abody structure of a vehicle, abraclcet secured to the body structure, a gear housing having a surface arranged along a part of said bracket, a resilient pad between said housing surface and said part of the bracket, another resilient pad along an opposite side of said bracket part, a plate along a free face of the second pad, anchor members extending through the bracket part and the pads securing the gear housing to said plate and the bracket part with said pads afiording movements of the gear housing relative to the bracket without transmitting vibrations therethrough, an electric motor carried by the gear housing, a shaft extending from the gear housing driven by said motor, a pinion driven by said shaft, and a gear sector in mesh with the pinion and connected to the panel for shifting the same.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the universal coupling includes resilient material and means surrounding the resilient material limiting the displacement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

